Justice Department Medical Malpractice Report Released
The Justice Department has released a report Sundaycontaining data on medical malpractice claims in seven states, including Illinois, Florida, Missouri, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada and Texas.
Prompted by ongoing debate about the reason for the increased cost of healthcare in the United States, the report describes settlement and payout amounts.
Findings
The report found that about 17 percent of all medical malpractice claims in those states yield payments of $1 million or more.
It also reported that about 95 percent of medical malpractice cases are settled out of court before the trial. Most of these are settled after the lawsuit is filed, said the report.
According to the report the median damages paid in medical malpractice cases has increased 49 percent in the last 10 years.
The report found that 24 percent of injuries resulting in medical malpractice claims occurred in physicians’ offices while 42 percent occurred in inpatient hospital facilities.
In Illinois, about 21 percent of insurance claims in closed malpractice cases result in payouts under $100,000, while nearly 25 percent result in payouts between $500,000 and $999,999, the report found.
Payout Timeframe
According to the report, the states from which they gathered data took an average of 15 to 24 months before medical injuries were reported to insurance companies. It took about 67 months on average in Illinois and Nevada to close.
“Several factors influence the decision concerning when to file a medical malpractice claim, including statute of limitations restrictions and the need to ascertain various medical, work-related, and pain and suffering expenses,” the study’s authors said.